The Wayro route from Nova Friburgo to Pindamonhangaba is 246 miles (396 km), about 5 h 32 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance | 246 mi (396 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-116 → RJ-122 → BR-116 → BR-493 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Nova Friburgo to Pindamonhangaba: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (158 mi) and BR-493 (30 mi) carry about 76% of the 246 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Nova Friburgo and Pindamonhangaba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-116 | 1–29 | 28 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-122 | 29–52 | 23 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 52–53 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 53–75 | 22 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 75–105 | 30 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 105–106 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 106–242 | 136 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 242–246 | 4 | São Paulo |
- Mile 185 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Nova Friburgo and Pindamonhangaba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Três Picos State Park (mile 19), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 224), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 228), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 228)
- Nature and outdoors: Três Picos State Park (mile 19), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 52), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 71), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 75), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 224), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 228), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 228)
Três Picos State Park
Três Picos State Park protects a large mountainous area of Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro state.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, who lived in Guaratinguetá and served as Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, is honored at the town's history museum.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Within the Aparecida basilica complex, the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida) gathers objects from the region, including archaeological pieces and sacred items. It opened in 1956.
Arriving in Pindamonhangaba
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Dom Pedro I e Dona Leopoldina
Founded in 1957, the Museu Histórico Pedagógico Dom Pedro I e Dona Leopoldina is a history museum in the town of Pindamonhangaba.
Palacete Tiradentes
Palacete Tiradentes is a building located in the city of Pindamonhangaba, in São Paulo state, Brazil.
More drives to Pindamonhangaba
- São José dos Campos to Pindamonhangaba
- Jacareí to Pindamonhangaba
- Mogi das Cruzes to Pindamonhangaba
- São Paulo to Pindamonhangaba
- Bragança Paulista to Pindamonhangaba
- Jundiaí to Pindamonhangaba
From Nova Friburgo to other places in Brazil
- Nova Friburgo to Itaguaí
- Nova Friburgo to Caraguatatuba
- Nova Friburgo to Bragança Paulista
- Nova Friburgo to Paranapiacaba
- Nova Friburgo to Itu
- Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nova Friburgo to Pindamonhangaba?
About 5 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 246 miles.
How far is Pindamonhangaba from Nova Friburgo by car?
About 246 miles (396 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Nova Friburgo to Pindamonhangaba?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Nova Friburgo to Pindamonhangaba use?
In order: RJ-116, RJ-122, BR-116 and BR-493. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nova Friburgo and Pindamonhangaba?
Closest to the road: Três Picos State Park (state park, mile 19, 0.3 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 175, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 224, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.